Evel Knievel’s famous Snake River Canyon jump takes place and an airplane is stolen from airport
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IDAHO FALLS — EastIdahoNews.com is looking back at what life was like during the week of Sept. 7 to Sept. 13 in east Idaho history.
1900-1925
BURLEY — A devastating fire broke out on a farm in Burley, The Burley Herald reported on Sept. 9, 1922.
The fire happened at the M.K. Scott ranch about two miles west of Burley. The blaze started in a haystack. Firefighters responded and saved the house and a water system Scott installed, but all 30 tons of hay and all the outbuildings on the property were destroyed. The loss was estimated at $1,500.
Scott was in Utah when the fire started and learned about it when he got home. This was the fourth time a fire had started at Scott’s farm.
1926-1950
IDAHO FALLS — Two men were charged with stealing an airplane from the Idaho Falls Airport, the Idaho Falls Post Register reported on Sept. 13, 1948.
E.C. Abbott and C.A. Taylor were the men accused of stealing the plane on Thursday. They were found in Rock Springs, Wyoming, on Saturday and were taken back to Idaho Falls by Bonneville County sheriff Dean F. Wilkie.
Wilkie had gone with Roy Van Houten, of the Aeroservice company who was a pilot and an assistant, to bring the plane back to Idaho. It’s not clear why they couldn’t fly it back, but the plane was being held in Rock Springs.
A preliminary hearing was expected to take place that week.
1951-1975
TWIN FALLS — Robert Craig Knievel, also known as Evel Knievel, who was best known for his motorcycle stunts, was going to try and jump the Snake River Canyon in Twin Falls on a steam-powered rocket, the Idaho State Journal reported on Sept. 8, 1974.
“It is the spectacle of the 600-foot deep Snake River Canyon and the … thin launch ramp above it that makes the jump such a public relations man’s dream,” the paper wrote.
Almost all the tickets to the event had been sold. County and state police had “strengthened their manpower in the area” and 600 national guardsmen had been placed on standby alert. At the 38-acre jump site itself, at least 150 private security guards were in charge of watching the fences.
The jump was being shown in about 280 movie theaters. For an average price of $10, the viewers would get to see the jump shot from nine angles and see it replayed in slow motion.
“I’m here to risk my life,” Knievel said. “I wish I didn’t have to do this but I’m going to.”
Knievel was 35 years old at the time.
1976-2000
RIGBY — A 28-year-old father was arraigned on a voluntary manslaughter charge after a 21-year-old was found dead, the Idaho Falls Post Register reported on Sept. 7, 1977.
Joe Carter was set for a preliminary hearing. Jefferson County sheriff’s deputy Wayne Johnson said Roy Tolley, of Annis, was shot with a 12-gauge shotgun at the Carter’s home. The shooting happened while Carter, his wife and child were present. Tolley died at the house.
An argument apparently happened before the shooting, Johnson said. But it wasn’t clear what the argument was about.
No other information on the incident had been released by officials.